We are feeling very lucky to be in such a beautiful place for this upcoming holiday week. We hope that each of you that follow us are with friends and family and are warm and cozy where ever you may be.
Its hard to believe that we've spent another year journaling our trip and that there are still some of you that continue to read about our whereabouts!
This past week, our good friend Josh joined us. We had some great meals with far too much food. Many lounging days by the pool and even managed to squeeze in a 2 day trip back to Tenacatita Bay for some great snorkeling, some spearfishing (no catching) and another epic trip through the jungle. Josh and I spent one evening getting my big camera all fixed up so perhaps 2025 will highlight some more good photos!
This week, Dylan will be joining us here in Barra de Navidad and the marina is getting crowded. Its been delightful to run into friends from many boats that have ended up here for the holidays. We're also connecting with new friends on boats that are planning to go the same direction we are so we're bound to have some buddy boats along the way. The water taxis are a buzz with 'cruiser talk'. "Do you have a puller?" "What do you think of those new [insert boat brand] boats?" "Did you fix your broken part?" "Who is your crew?" Everything is festive!
AND NOW FOR A LITTLE CHRISTMAS STORY....
'Twas the night before Navidad, when all through the boat; Not a creature was stirring, not even a goat.
The flip flops were hung by the mast with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The crew was nestled all snug in their berths, while visions of french pastries dancing in their heads;
And me in my muumuu, and Dan in his besties, had just settled our brains for a long afternoon siesta,
When out in the marina there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my berth to see what was the matter.
Away to the porthole I flew like a flash,
Tore open the screen and opened the hatch.
The full moon on the breast of the glassy lagoonGave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature panga, and eight tiny dolphins,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be the Mexican St. Nick.
More rapid than swordfish his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Gorge! now, Arturo! now, Poncho and Marco! On, Jesus! on, Jose! on, Alejandro and Diego!
To the top of the deck to the top of the sail! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As palm fronds that before the wild hurricanes fly, When they meet with an obstacle, rise to the sky;
So up to the cabana-top the coursers they flew, With the panga full of Tacos, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the deck, the prancing and singing of each little tail flip.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around, down the mast St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in hawaiian print, from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with grease and dirt;
A bundle of Tacos he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were sunburned, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a smurf; And the beard of his chin was as white as the surf;
The stump of a churro he held tight in his teeth, And the mosquitos encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round tummy, that shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of peso money.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old hombre, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not an english word, but went straight to his work, and filled all our flip flops with tacos; then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, up the mast he rose;
He sprang to his panga, to his dolphin team gave a look, and away they all swam like the a swordfish on a hook,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he motored out of sight,"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Dan & Jeanne
Wish we were celebrating with you! Feliz Navidad! 😘
Merry Christmas!!